Car-brake



I (No Model.)

0; B. BUSSEY.

Oar Brake. No. 240,087; I Patented April 12,1881.

MPETEns, FHOTO LITNOGRAPHER. WASRXNGTON. n c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR B. BUSSEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,087, dated April 12, 1881. Application filed August 16, 1880. (No model.)

. foot ofthe driver while the hands may be otherwise engaged.

My improvement consists in the substitution of a vertically-moving footpiece, a lever, and a toggle-joint, in place of the crank, rotary shaft, chain, and draw-rods by which the customary brake apparatus is applied byhand; and my invention embodies the devices and combination of devices recited in the appended C is the central bar, pivoted beneath the carframe, and serving, through the rods D D and beams E E, to bring the brakeshoes F F to bear upon the wheels G, all in the usual manner.

My improved mechanism for operating this apparatus consists of a foot-piece, H, working vertically through the platforms at a point conveniently near the drivers foot, and pivoted to a lever, l, which bears upon a togglejoint, J, actuating a push-bar, K, thus vibrating the bar C and pressing the shoes F upon the several wheels. When extreme pressure is desired I employ an additional lever, L, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, thus compounding the power; but in practice a single lever acting upon the toggle-joint J, as in Fig. 3, is found to afford abundant pressure. The lever I is not confined to the toggle-arms, but is independent thereof and bears thereon by a knob, roller, or grooved wheel, 0. This construction gives freedom of movement to the parts, both in applying pressure and in releasing it. The disconnection of the parts permits the treadle at one end to be depressed without moving the one at the other end of the car, although the brakes are applied to all four wheels by the movement of either treadle. The levers are, by preference, fulcrumed in brackets M secured beneath the carframe and supplied with braces N. The toggleoint J requires most snbst antia-l bracing at its tiXed end, in order to resist the severe strain. The levers I and joint J are provided with springs S, which serve to relax the pressure when the foot is removed from the treadle. When, however, it is desired to hold the brakes on the wheels mechanically for a time, a pivoted pawl, P, is swung on its center by the heel of the driver, so as to engage at its too with a ratchet, R, on the stem of the footpiece H, and hold it depressed untilthe parts are disengaged.

The operation is obvious. It will thus be seen that I utilize most of the existing brake apparatus of horse-cars, and can therefore transform them with slight expenseand delay, by removing the hand-crank, shaft, chain, and draw-rod, and substituting my treadle, levers, toggle, and push-bar.

I do not claim, broadly, either a treadle or a toggle-joint, nor their combination; but

I claim as my improvement on means of operating the brake-beams, draw-rods, and pivoted bar of the ordinary brake apparatus- 1. The combination of the treadle H, lever I, knob or roller 0, and toggleoint J, constrncted and adapted to operate substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the treadle H, lever I, roller 0, and toggle J with springs S S, connecting said lever and toggle directly with the carframe, whereby the lever is raised and the toggle relaxed when the foot is removed from the treadle, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of a toggle-joint and an independent lever bearing thereon with a bracket forming a seat for said toggle and a fulcrum for said lever, substantially as setforth.

4. In a brake-operating mechanism, the coinbiuation of a verticallymoving footpiece, a ratchet, and a pivoted pawl arranged to be operated by the drivers heel while the ball of the foot is on the treadle, substantially as set forth.

OSCAR B. BUSSEY.

Witnesses:

A. H. SPENCER, C. G. KEYES. 

